Posts Tagged: red flameskimmer

Like a Lens to a Flame

It's a delight to see the flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata). This male made its appearance in our Vacaville pollinator garden on May...

The male flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) is firecracker red. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) is firecracker red. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A different angle, but the same gorgeous flameskimmer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A different angle, but the same gorgeous flameskimmer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dragonfly vs. Bee: Catch of the Day

The red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) waits oh-so-patiently atop a bamboo stick at the edge of the pollinator garden. She's in...

A red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) with her prey, a female sweat bee, Halictus ligatus, as identified by Robbin Thorp, distinguished emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis. The gender of the flamekimmer identified by Kathy Claypool Biggs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) with her prey, a female sweat bee, Halictus ligatus, as identified by Robbin Thorp, distinguished emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis. The gender of the flamekimmer identified by Kathy Claypool Biggs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The red flameskimmer dragonfly adjusts her prey, a sweat bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The red flameskimmer dragonfly adjusts her prey, a sweat bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Beneath all of that pollen is a female sweat bee, the prey of this red flameskimmer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Beneath all of that pollen is a female sweat bee, the prey of this red flameskimmer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

All gone. The red flameskimmer polishes off the last of the sweat bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

All gone. The red flameskimmer polishes off the last of the sweat bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Meet Big Red, the Flameskimmer

Big Red visited us for four consecutive days. The red flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata, zigged and zagged into our pollinator garden in...

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, perches on a bamboo stake. Note the nesting earwigs and bees in the split stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, perches on a bamboo stake. Note the nesting earwigs and bees in the split stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, sparkles in the sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, sparkles in the sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Helicopter? No, a red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, glimmering in the sunlight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Helicopter? No, a red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata, glimmering in the sunlight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A flameskimmer,Libellula saturata, in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A flameskimmer,Libellula saturata, in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Stalking the Red Flameskimmer

Who doesn't love the red flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata? If the Fourth of July had its own insect, it would be the firecracker red...

Red flameskimmer dragonfly perching on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flameskimmer dragonfly perching on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flameskimmer dragonfly against a solid background: a fence covered with a shade cloth. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flameskimmer dragonfly against a solid background: a fence covered with a shade cloth. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flameskimmer blends in a background filled with Jupiter's beard. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flameskimmer blends in a background filled with Jupiter's beard. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Takeoff! All systems are go. Or green. Red flameskimmer adjusts its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Takeoff! All systems are go. Or green. Red flameskimmer adjusts its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Why That Ol' Flame Stakes Out the Back Yard

Sometimes the red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) will let you approach it. Sometimes it's having a bad hair day or a bad predator/prey...

Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perches on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perches on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hmm, is this my best side? Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perching on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hmm, is this my best side? Red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) perching on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) tries a new position. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata) tries a new position. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Late afternoon sun sets the red flameskimmer aglow. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Late afternoon sun sets the red flameskimmer aglow. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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